Arnold

The majority of the following information was provided courtesy of Janet Rusch Farquhar, great-granddaughter of Mark and Jennie Arnold.

Mark Arnold was born September 11, 1845 in Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana, the son of Willis and Martha Read Arnold (both born in Kentucky, he in 1808 and she, about 1810).

The Children of Willis and Martha Read Arnold

Frances Corrille b. 1832 in Indiana d. 1901
Elizabeth Ann b. 1834 in Indiana d. 1909
Arnold infant b. & d. 1835 in Indiana
John Read b. 1837 d. 1840 in Indiana
Eliza Jane (Lile) b. 1842 in Indiana d. 1913
Arnold infant b. & d. 1844 in Indiana
Marquis Tarquinias b. September 11, 1845 in Indiana
Emma Rice b. 1852 in Iowa d. 1881

The family relocated to Monroe County, Iowa sometime between Mark's birth and that of his younger sister, Emma Rice, who was born in Iowa. The childrens' mother, Martha Read Arnold died on January 22, 1852 in Albia, Iowa, likely in childbirth. She is buried in Caldwell Cemetery.

By 1854, Willis had married Zerrilda Robinson (born in 1818 in Indiana, the daughter of James and Lucinda Robinson), who was likely Martha Read Arnold's cousin. The graves of James and Lucinda Robinson are located next to that of Martha Read Arnold in Caldwell Cemetery.

Willis and Martha Read Arnold's youngest daughter, Emma Rice Arnold married Andrew Addison Elswick (born May 5, 1845 in Indiana) in about 1871. The couple had two children, Minnie May and Dell Andrew Elswick (both born in Indiana). Emma died in 1881.
The 1885 Iowa Census shows that Emma's widowed husband, Andrew, and their two children were living with Emma's father Willis Arnold and his second wife, Zerrilda Robinson Arnold, in Monroe County, Iowa.

Andrew's daughter, Minnie May Elswick, became the bride of Robert Estus Lambertson on November 17, 1892 in Monroe County, Iowa. Robert, commonly known as "Esty," was the brother of Lucinda Melissa Lambertson Love, wife of John Richard Love. (Mark Arnold's niece, Minnie May, married his brother-in-law's brother-in-law.)

Andrew Elswick, at age 49, married 14 year old Ellen Hynd on February 15, 1895 in Monroe County, Iowa. According to a living descendant, Ellen's terminally ill mother was instrumental in arranging the marriage as she didn't want her daughter to be orphaned at age 14 and to potentially become a servant. Miss Hynd's name appears as "Ellen" on the couple's marriage certificate, but she used the name "Nellie" in all US Census records available. Andrew and Nellie became the parents of 10 children between 1895 and 1916 according to US Census records.

Willis Arnold died February 24, 1899 in Albia, Monroe County, Iowa. Zerrilda Arnold moved to Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa to live with her youngest daughter, Martha S. Arnold Waugh. Zerrilda died July 23, 1900 in Chariton. Willis and Zerrilda Arnold are buried in Oakview Cemetery, Albia, Iowa.

Andrew Addison Elswick died January 7, 1929 and is buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Monroe County, Iowa. Minnie May, daughter of Andrew and Emma Elswick, and wife of Robert Estus Lambertson, died July 27, 1934 in Monroe County, Iowa and is buried in Selection Cemetery.

Sometime in early 1935, Robert Estus Lambertson and Nellie Elswick were united in marriage. The 1940 US Census indicates the couple was living in Bluff Creek Township, Monroe County, Iowa. Esty's daughter, Frances Lambertson, was living with them.

Esty Lambertson died in 1953 and is buried in Selection Cemetery with his first wife. Nellie Elswick Lambertson died in 1957 and is buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery with her first husband, Andrew Elswick.